Cycling

[maddog]

Great effort by Healy yesterday. Incredible that Paret-Peintre is only 52kgs so if ever a man was built for Ventoux its him. On overall some rumours POG not feeling 100% some flu symptoms. MVDP quit with pneumonia. POG probably just doing enough, stay with JV and its job done. Sounds easy!
Today looks like a stage for sprinters but the intermediate sprint comes before a 600mtr ascent at 6.6% which could split things depending on how they race it. Milan will want that intermediate sprint and then if there are points for the climb Martinez needs those. There are some strong breakaway type riders that will be chomping at the bit (Magnus Cort Nielsen, Kasper Asgreen, Mohoric) So won't be a surprise to see some of them get up the road and try and outfox the sprinters.

[JimStynes]

Shite enough stage. Constantly waiting on fireworks from Pog and he never attacks. Ben O'Connor with a great ride all the same.

[oakleaflad]

Shite enough stage. Constantly waiting on fireworks from Pog and he never attacks. Ben O'Connor with a great ride all the same.

Pog tactically rid that stage perfectly. Jonas has constantly tried throughout the tour but just hasn't the legs and forget about anyone else as they're no worry to Pog. Good recovery from Onley today who pushed closer to 3rd and a great ride from O'Connor to win a very tough stage.

Love watching even though they're all likely juiced to the gills.

[gallsman]

Had it on the background all afternoon. With Pog it's all or nothing. If he was constantly on the attack and hunting every last stage like last year, the narrative would be that it's boring because there's nobody close to him and that he's greedy for taking all the wins and leaving everyone else with scraps. Instead, the narrative is that he's simply being boring and riding out a win that he had wrapped up last week.

I think he's on a hiding to nothing either way, but personally would like to just see him go bananas as much as possible and try and find the limit. If he really, really wanted to go for it this year, all the jerseys and potentially the single tour stage record were there for him. Would love to see him go for it on the new Paris stage.

[bennydorano]

Pogacar on a different level but Oscar Onley going to he the breakout star of this TDF.

[gallsman]

Tomorrow's stage cut short by 30km and with a climb cut out of it due to...the unforeseen emergency cull of cattle to contain an outbreak of something or other.

[JimStynes]

Had it on the background all afternoon. With Pog it's all or nothing. If he was constantly on the attack and hunting every last stage like last year, the narrative would be that it's boring because there's nobody close to him and that he's greedy for taking all the wins and leaving everyone else with scraps. Instead, the narrative is that he's simply being boring and riding out a win that he had wrapped up last week.

I think he's on a hiding to nothing either way, but personally would like to just see him go bananas as much as possible and try and find the limit. If he really, really wanted to go for it this year, all the jerseys and potentially the single tour stage record were there for him. Would love to see him go for it on the new Paris stage.

I actually think he's holding back because he's trying not to rip the ass out of it by winning every stage! He's under enough heat at the minute with the juicing allegations. The other day it reminded me so much of the US postal days. Most of the UAE tesm hammering away at the front of the race looking like they could all just attack at any stage.

[tonto1888]

Had it on the background all afternoon. With Pog it's all or nothing. If he was constantly on the attack and hunting every last stage like last year, the narrative would be that it's boring because there's nobody close to him and that he's greedy for taking all the wins and leaving everyone else with scraps. Instead, the narrative is that he's simply being boring and riding out a win that he had wrapped up last week.

I think he's on a hiding to nothing either way, but personally would like to just see him go bananas as much as possible and try and find the limit. If he really, really wanted to go for it this year, all the jerseys and potentially the single tour stage record were there for him. Would love to see him go for it on the new Paris stage.

I actually think he's holding back because he's trying not to rip the ass out of it by winning every stage! He's under enough heat at the minute with the juicing allegations. The other day it reminded me so much of the US postal days. Most of the UAE tesm hammering away at the front of the race looking like they could all just attack at any stage.

I watch it these days and just assume theyre all on some form of PED

[maddog]

Tomorrow's stage cut short by 30km and with a climb cut out of it due to...the unforeseen emergency cull of cattle to contain an outbreak of something or other.

Stage cut to only 93km or so. This could result in serious fireworks from the gun. Hope so. Onley needs 23 seconds to get into 3rd and the young riders jersey.

[illdecide]

Juiced up or not it's still remarkable what they do and until you actually go out to them climbs and try them yourself it's only then you get the magnitude of them. POG is really something else and Jonas would be winning more only he's in the wrong era but it is what it is.

[APM]

Juiced up or not it's still remarkable what they do and until you actually go out to them climbs and try them yourself it's only then you get the magnitude of them. POG is really something else and Jonas would be winning more only he's in the wrong era but it is what it is.

Are you serious? If that's what you think you would be better to watch the Enhanced Games.

If some or all of them are on PEDs then what you are watching isn't real. If it isn't solely about talent, preparation and commitment, then what is it about?  It's not a level playing field if success is in-part determined by who is taking PEDs, who has got the best PEDs and who can stay ahead of the testing regime.

PEDs have been an issue in cycling going way back to the 60s. Paul Kimmage has done a tremendous job by not backing off and challenging the bullshit. I would personally question whether one of the biggest issues with cycling is that the grand tours are simply too hard.

[illdecide]

I don't know if they're taking drugs or not, how the hell would I know. I said it's remarkable what they do juiced or not. Where did i say I believe they're on drugs or I thought they were on drugs?
Relax yourself...

[APM]

I don't know if they're taking drugs or not, how the hell would I know. I said it's remarkable what they do juiced or not. Where did i say I believe they're on drugs or I thought they were on drugs?
Relax yourself...

No harm meant ID
It's the "juiced or not" bit that grinds my gears. Feels bit like accepting that the deception is ok.

[JimStynes]

Juiced up or not it's still remarkable what they do and until you actually go out to them climbs and try them yourself it's only then you get the magnitude of them. POG is really something else and Jonas would be winning more only he's in the wrong era but it is what it is.

Are you serious? If that's what you think you would be better to watch the Enhanced Games.

If some or all of them are on PEDs then what you are watching isn't real. If it isn't solely about talent, preparation and commitment, then what is it about?  It's not a level playing field if success is in-part determined by who is taking PEDs, who has got the best PEDs and who can stay ahead of the testing regime.

PEDs have been an issue in cycling going way back to the 60s. Paul Kimmage has done a tremendous job by not backing off and challenging the bullshit. I would personally question whether one of the biggest issues with cycling is that the grand tours are simply too hard.

To be fair to illdecide, the few times I've done some Tour de France climbs the first though was always 'no wonder these f**kers are on the juice'! Superhuman racing those climbs.

The tour never really set fire like I hoped it would. Wanted Pog to put on a show but he was happy enough to get the hard work done early and then just sit on Jonas' wheel the rest of the tour.

[bennydorano]

I think it looks pretty clear he has been dealing with a cold or bug. We'll not know the full story until the Netflix TDF S3 comes out next Spring.